Do you ever find yourself in a state of longing for something?
Just the other night, I had just finished cooking dinner and sat down to have dinner for one. If I’m being honest, I was feeling a little lonely…maybe longing is a better word. My heart was in the state of longing, and that for fellowship.
At this current season of my life, friendship with the Lord and intimacy with the Holy Spirit is something that I am learning. So, I invited the Holy Spirit into that moment. As I sought fellowship with Him, almost immediately, “1 Peter 2,” came to mind.
I turned in my Bible and read. When I got to verse 2, a chord was struck and I really had to stop and think.
1 Peter 2:2:
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…”
When I think about a newborn’s desire to be fed, the picture that comes to mind is crying, crying and more crying…until that milk hits their palate.
Quite the imagery. But powerful.
Although I had read this passage countless times before, this time was different. I went and searched out the deeper meaning of the word ‘desire’ in this verse.
Desire: comes from the greek word, epipotheō which means “to long for greatly.”
To long for greatly.
With this definition, and the imagery of a crying infant. The question came to mind, “Do I long for the Word of God this way?” And not just long, but greatly long for? Does my soul cry out, do I go utterly unsatisfied until I get alone with the Word?
I long for other godly things deeply, but if I’m going to remain honest, I don’t long for God’s Word this way.
I was then directed to Psalm 119. Might I say, the words written in this Psalm reveal a level of longing after God’s Word that I stand in awe of. There were many times after reading a verse I would stop and literally say, “That’s insane.”
Elementary commentary, I know.
But check this out:
Psalm 119:10-20
“With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.”
There are so many verses one could comment on but I will address a few. Did you see verse 14? Let’s pretend for a moment you were miraculously gifted a million dollars. How would you feel? For me, outside of tithing, I instantly thought of how I would pay off my debt and buy a simple house with a good plot of land, if I’m being truthful. I’d be happy! Now, think about this, when I think about the things that God has done or has said in His Word, do I rejoice as much as the thought of having all the riches (or a couple million)?
The last verse here also really got me. Listen to the language used. “My soul breaks with longing…” That word ‘break’ means to be crushed, or broken. And then he goes on to say, “at all times.”
Insane.
But these words are reflective of the heart cry of 1 Peter 2:2.
It makes me think, what if all the longing we feel on a daily basis is just a deep cry for the milk of the Word that we silence with other things? When you feel lonely or empty, what do you do? Where does your mind go? What do you find yourself desiring in those moments?
Matthew 4:4
“But He [Jesus] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
John 6:35
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
Psalm 107:9
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
God’s Word is our daily bread, and Jesus the bread of life. We need time in God’s Word and fellowship in His presence if we are to find true fulfillment.
The beautiful thing about our God is that He is gracious. If you, like me, realize that your desire for God’s Word is lacking, this is something that we can pray for. And begin to take the opportunity to turn to His Word each and every day. Let us pray that He do a work in our hearts, that we would greatly long for the Words of our Father.
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